www.ohiofoodbanks.org

www.ohiobenefits.org

SNAP and WorkJason Elchert, deputy directorjason@ohiofoodbanks.org

Dustin Speakman, director of community servicesdustin@ohiofoodbanks.org

September 24, 2015

What Happened to Our Waiver?

Ohio had been operating under a full statewide waiver until September 30, 2013.

August 30, 2013, Ohio Governor John R. Kasich’s office contacted the association to tell us they were declining the waiver for all but 16 Appalachian counties.

The waiver would end September 30 and the 3 month time limit would go into full effect.

2

The Political LandscapeImpacted hungry

Ohioans

Ohio Governor John Kasich assisted with writing this law into

welfare reform

There appeared to be national political

pressure behind this decision as well

The administration after several meetings would still not accept continuing the wavier

The association requested the

administration take a thoughtful approach to implementing a

work program

The media and general public were

not always supportive of the association – as

the association was portrayed as anti-work

3

Who are These People? Does Data Exist?

4

There was no data at the state level

There was no data at the county level

Many of these cases had been worked at only a very shallow level since 2007 because of the waiver

State and county were unable to provide any demographic profile

The number of impacted individuals was unknown

In short – we started to cut benefits off without knowing any information

Who, What, Where, and Why…

It started in Franklin County Ohio – Columbus, the first week of October 2013 with the Ohio Association of

Foodbanks and the Franklin County Department of Job and Family

Services. We each knew this was bad policy and would impact our

community substantially considering there could be up to 12,000 that may not be exempted immediately. People need to eat and we started building an ABAWD bicycle and trying to ride it at

the same time…

5

Partners

• Franklin County Job and Family Services provided funding to the association - $450,000. • $200,000 for operations• $250,000 to be used for participants

only

• Ohio Association of Foodbanks• Columbus Public Library• Community and Faith Based

Organizations 6

False Start

Initially beginning in the

first week of November, the

association was setting up at

public libraries across the city and county to conduct paper assessments.

• Franklin County would provide referrals and we would be at the library on specific days waiting for ABAWDs

• Paper assessments took a long time• No library consistency in dates – individuals would

randomly show up a day no one was there – libraries not happy

• Between the association and Franklin County an organization reported to the state the exemptions were being applied too liberally to felons.

• This resulted in homeless individuals no longer being exempted, felons no longer exempted, caregivers that did not have the individual in their home no longer being exempted and a host of others

7

County Operational IssuesLack of understanding the ABAWD E&T rules

Training issues on SNAP E&T in general for caseworkers

Staffing with Medicaid expansion influx – already in overtime mode

No tracking system of reporting compliant and non-compliant individuals

No reporting system, data collection system, or any system of any kind

Conflicts within Ohio Administrative Code throwing off case managers and administrators

8

Process 2.0

9

Meet with individual

upon approval at the welfare office for

assessment

Individual is provided

information on the program, assessed for

variety of barriers and information collected

Individual is provided clinic date at the end of the month –

during the clinic they are

background checked, legal aid provides

services, apply for other benefits

Individual is provided

opportunity for men and women's

suiting and any other

placement site clothing/safety

needs

Upon completion of background check they

are placed at a volunteer site for 23 hours per month.

Assessment and Data

When Franklin County Job and Family Services caseworkers make the determination that a individual is an ABAWD and is considered work required, the individual is referred to their local opportunity center to be assessed by an Ohio Association of Foodbanks WEP Assessment Specialist.

Each specialist completes an in-depth interview with the individuals using a series of questions on the Work Experience Assessment Portal.

The assessment can be located at wep.ohiofoodbanks.org however we ask that you DO NOT submit any information

Questions go over a wide variety of demographic, employment, disability, education, and criminal justice encounters

10

Assessment in TBB Pro

• The association programmed the assessment into TBB Pro and will begin using the module in November 2015• Improved security• Capitalize on other benefit applications

in TBB• Transfer case to counselor-assisted/self-

serve after client exits program

• Reporting on individuals will enable counselors to work better with clients and CDJFS

11

Assessment in TBB Pro

12

Assessment in TBB Pro

13

Assessment in TBB Pro

14

Assessment in TBB Pro

15

Assessment in TBB Pro

16

Assessment in TBB Pro

17

Assessment in TBB Pro

18

Assessment in TBB Pro

19

Assessment in TBB Pro

20

General Findings

21

Male62%

Female38%

Phone Number Email Address Mailing Address0

50010001500200025003000350040004500 Types of Communication

No

Yes

By the Numbers4,145 individiuals assessed since 11/201334 – average age17% have filed for SSI/SSDI56% have reliable transportation10% are currently working10% are performing in-kind work15% need supportive services at assignment (LEP)

Employment & Other Barriers

22

Felony Convica-

tions

Physical or Mental Health

Condition

No Diploma or GED

OhioMean-sJobs Regis-

tration

Non-Custo-dial Parents

Valid Driver's License

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

35%31% 30%

26%24%

39%

Impact?

23

April

May

June Ju

ly

Augus

t

Sept

embe

r

Octob

er

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

Janu

ary

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

389

275

614

298

489

543

475

309266

292

Non-Compliant Individuals Exiting the Program by Month

Conclusion…

24

• We are doing our best. There is not enough money in SNAP E&T to make huge impacts.

• We are helping to maintain benefits in many cases, but nothing more than that.

• This is a difficult population to engage with as they can be transient, lower functioning, and are not able-bodied.

• You can do this and help make your state and partners aware of what this provision means to our communities.